Arthur Brown... Can he play SILB next to DWash?

[Duckjake]

I've watched more of Hodges on tape than I've seen him playing at Penn State, since I've been away from PA a lot over the last two years.

Hodges is a very good athlete but his instincts aren't as good as most linebackers Penn State has produced over the years. Some fellow Penn State fans have tried compared him to Bowman but those comparisons are extremely flawed in my opinion. Bowman has far better instincts and as importantly takes much, much better angles to the ball carrier than Hodges. Hodges also isnt nearly the quality tackler in space that Bowman, Lee and Poz were coming out of college.

Hodges is a very good athlete overall, is good in pass coverage and is a very hard worker. However, I consider him to still be a raw product in that he has a number of things he still needs to work on such as his tendency to takes bad angles to the ballcarrier and generally average instincts that leave him too much ground to make up more often than not. Because he is a such an athlete and hard worker, he was able to work around these weaknesses in college and was also helped by a scheme that gave him a lot of cover. As a draft prospect I see him as a WILB type linebacker with considerable talent but that needs time and good further coaching to succeed at the NFL. If you put him in the right scheme and pair him with a very good MLB, I think he’ll be a good one. He would benefit most from going to a team that has at least one very good MLB and where the pressure to play immediately isnt high. I therefore dont think he is a good fit for the Cards at this moment in time. Hodges will likely go in the 3rd or 4th. With our needs being what they are I dont see the Cards targeting him.

Thanks. I'd seen one article that mentioned him as a possible target for the Cards in the 4-5th round range.

One of the great things about ASFN is that we have fans from all over the country, and the world, so you can get takes like this from people who follow the players college team.

Except for Stout who can't rate Penn State players on anything but their ability to quote Shakespeare.

 

[perivolaki]

I see some of that same instincts and sideline to sideline play in traffic from Arthur and can definitely see why several people have mentioned similarities to Navorro Bowman. I think Brown needs work on his tackling and needs to gain about 10 pounds but I do think he has the makings of a potentially very good SILB in a 3-4 defense. With his speed and pretty good coverage ability he would be the 4 down type linebacker you could plug in next to Daryl Washington. Therefore I would be very happy if he was our pick at #38.

All that said I dont see the Cards taking him as I do believe they will have at least one or two pass rushers they are high on in Tank Carradine or Damontre Moore at #38. I think they will pick either of those if they are on the board and if they are not they may still be more inclined to go with a safety.

I think this is right on the mark with Brown.

 

[Monty]

Thanks. I'd seen one article that mentioned him as a possible target for the Cards in the 4-5th round range.

One of the great things about ASFN is that we have fans from all over the country, and the world, so you can get takes like this from people who follow the players college team.

Except for Stout who can't rate Penn State players on anything but their ability to quote Shakespeare.

I love reading this board for the very reason you mentioned. I'd like to contribute more but being in the USMC means I hardly get the chance when I'm on tour.